Allegheny County Mail-In, Absentee Ballots Are Going out Ballots Being Sent in Batches, Over 314,000 Ballot Applications Approved to Date

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Amie M. Downs September 24, 2020 412-350-3711 (office) 412-327-3700 (cell) [email protected]

Allegheny County Mail-In, Absentee Ballots Are Going Out Ballots Being Sent in Batches, Over 314,000 Ballot Applications Approved To Date

PITTSBURGH – The Elections Division announced today that mail-in and absentee ballot packets have begun to go out to county voters. Approximately 20,000 ballots were delivered to the post office yesterday and, by the end of the day today, another 50,000 ballots will have been delivered to the post office for mailing.

With that step, over-the-counter voting at the Elections Division office at 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 601, in downtown Pittsburgh is now also available during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Over-the-counter voting entails a voter going to the counter in the Elections Division and applying in- person for a mail-in or absentee ballot. The application is the same as the one found online and can be completed in advance of going to the County Office Building. Once the application is completed and submitted to the Elections staff, the application will be processed using the SURE system to ensure the voter is registered to vote, hasn’t already applied for a ballot, or has any other barriers to voting.

Once reviewed and approved, the ballot for that person’s municipality, ward and precinct will be provided to the voter along with a security and declaration envelope, and instructions for voting. Privacy screens will be set up on the counter to allow the voter to complete their ballot in secret. Once voted, the ballot is folded and placed in a security envelope which is then placed inside of a second envelope with the voter’s declaration printed on the back. The voter will complete and sign the declaration before returning the envelope to Elections staff.

The voter’s record will be updated to show that the individual’s ballot has been returned. Voted ballots are secured within the Elections Division before being transported to the Elections Warehouse where they are stored in a locked room which is also under camera surveillance. They will remain there until 7 AM on Election Day when ballots may begin to be opened and counted.

Over-the-counter voting will also be available at the additional offices approved by the Board of Elections which will open beginning on October 10. The schedule, including dates, times and locations, follow and are also being added to the Elections website along with a map that can also provide directions to site for voters that need that information.

Saturday, October 10 – Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday, October 11 – Hours: 11 AM to 7 PM • County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219 Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219

North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, PA 15090 Wexford, PA 15090

South Park Ice Rink, 300 Corrigan Drive, South Park Ice Rink, 300 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102 Bethel Park, PA 15102

DPW Garage # 2 (Carnegie), 1040 Campbells DPW Garage # 2 (Carnegie), 1040 Campbells Run Road, Carnegie, PA 15106 Run Road, Carnegie, PA 15106

CCAC Homewood, 701 North Homewood CCAC Homewood, 701 North Homewood Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Saturday, October 17 – Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday, October 18 – Hours: 11 AM to 7 PM • County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219 Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219

South Park Ice Rink, 300 Corrigan Drive, South Park Ice Rink, 300 Corrigan Drive, Bethel Park, PA 15102 Bethel Park, PA 15102

CCAC South, 1750 Clairton Road, West CCAC South, 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122 Mifflin, PA 15122

Boyce Park Ski Lodge, 901 Centerview Drive, Boyce Park Ski Lodge, 901 Centerview Drive, Plum, PA 15239 Plum, PA 15239

Shop ‘n Save Hill District, 1850 Centre Shop ‘n Save Hill District, 1850 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Saturday, October 24 – Hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Sunday, October 25 – Hours: 11 AM to 7 PM • County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, County Office Building, 542 Forbes Avenue, Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219 Room 601, Downtown Pittsburgh, 15219

Boyce Park Ski Lodge, 901 Centerview Drive, Boyce Park Ski Lodge, 901 Centerview Drive, Plum, PA 15239 Plum, PA 15239

CCAC South, 1750 Clairton Road, West CCAC South, 1750 Clairton Road, West Mifflin, PA 15122 Mifflin, PA 15122

CCAC Allegheny, 807 Ridge Avenue, CCAC Allegheny, 807 Ridge Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Pittsburgh, PA 15212

North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, North Park Ice Rink, 1200 Pearce Mill Road, Wexford, PA 15090 Wexford, PA 15090

The division continues to process online applications in the same day they are received and is working through paper applications with additional staff and shifts. Applications for mail-in or absentee ballots must be received by the Elections Division by 5 PM on October 27. Voters are encouraged to apply now and can do so online at https://votespa.com/ApplyMailBallot.

Daily updates on the number of applications processed are being provided on the main page of the Elections website and are updated by 10 AM daily, Monday through Friday. The number of ballots delivered to the post office will be added to the site beginning tomorrow and the number of ballots returned will be added beginning next Wednedsay.

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Jerry Tyskiewicz, Director Department of Administrative Services – Division of Elections 604 County Office Building │ 542 Forbes Avenue │ Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Phone: 412-350-4500 │ Fax: 412-350-5697 www.alleghenycounty.us